This project determined what types of health insurance coverage rural Native American elders have and examined how different types of health insurance coverage and lack of health insurance coverage impact access to health care services among Native American elders by geographic location (rural frontier, rural non-frontier and urban).

The study addressed the following research questions:

• What is the rate of health insurance coverage among Native American elders living in rural frontier, rural non-frontier and urban counties?
• What types of health insurance coverage do Native American elders living in rural frontier, rural non-frontier and urban counties have?
• Who are the uninsured Native American elders and what is their demographic make-up?
• What is the relationship between health insurance coverage, geographic location, key demographic factors and health status indicators among Native American elders?
• What is the relationship between health insurance coverage and access to health care services among Native American elders?

The study analyzed national data from Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders II, a Native elder social and health needs assessment project conducted by the NRCNAA in collaboration with tribes throughout the country. To allow analyses by rural, frontier, and urban location, the Native Elder II survey data were linked to Urban Influence Code variables from the Area Resource File and frontier variables from the Census data using county Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes.

Publications

• Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
  Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2007
  This policy brief reports findings from a study assessing health insurance coverage and access to healthcare among American Indian and Alaska Native elders using data from a national survey that included more than 8,300 Native elders.
• The Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on Native Elder Health: Implications for Addressing the Health Care Needs of Rural Native American Elders
  Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2007
  This study examines health insurance coverage and access to healthcare among American Indian and Alaska Native elders, defined as 55 years or older. The authors conclude it is essential to develop policies that address the financial, geographical, and cultural aspects that negatively impact access to culturally appropriate healthcare.